Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2010-11: Jimmy Lodge, a Pennsylvania native, skated for the Toronto Titans midget minor team in the Greater Trenton Hockey League and was invited to USA Hockey’s Select 16 player camp. He scored 18 goals with 25 assists for the Titans. Lodge was selected by Saginaw in the 3rd round (62nd overall) of the 2011 OHL Priority Draft.

2011-12: Lodge played 45 games for Saginaw in his first OHL season, scoring 8 goals with 4 assists, and was minus-10 with 10 penalty minutes. Saginaw finished third in the West Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Lodge saw limited ice time in the playoffs; finishing minus-one with no points nor penalties in 11 games.

2012-13: Lodge represented the USA in the 2012 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August and had a breakout season in his second year with Saginaw; particularly after the Spirit traded team captain/former leading scorer Vince Trocheck (Florida). Lodge was the third-leading scorer for the Spirit with 28 goals and 39 assists in 64 games and was plus-four with 28 penalty minutes. The Spirit finished fourth in the West Division and faced London in the first round of the playoffs. Lodge scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was minus-four with 7 penalty minutes in the four game series. In four games at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament he had 2 assists as the USA finished 1-3 in four games. Lodge was ranked 21st amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2013 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Lodge represented the USA in the 2012 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August and had a breakout season in his second year with Saginaw; particularly after the Spirit traded team captain/former leading scorer Vince Trocheck (Florida). Lodge was the third-leading scorer for the Spirit with 28 goals and 39 assists in 64 games and was plus-4 with 28 penalty minutes. Saginaw finished fourth in the West Division and faced London in the first round of the playoffs. Lodge scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was minus-4 with 7 penalty minutes in the four game series. In four games at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament he had 2 assists as the USA finished 1-3 in four games. Lodge was ranked 21st amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by Winnipeg in the third round (84th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.

2013-14: Lodge suffered a shoulder injury in the USA Hockey U20 evaluation camp in August and was limited in training camp with the Jets before returning to Saginaw for his third OHL season. Missing time due to the shoulder injury and then an early season concussion, he appeared in 59 regular season games for the Spirit and was the team’s fourth-leading scorer. He had 19 goals with 27 assists and was plus-5 with 49 penalty minutes. Eight of his 19 goals were scored on the power play. Saginaw finished third in the West Division and lost in the first round to first-place Erie. Lodge scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was minus-1 with 2 penalty minutes in five playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Lodge has good size (6’2), plays a position of value (centre), and has elite offensive passing ability. He can put the puck in the net, but needs to work on getting the most out of his physicality. He is a hard-working, coachable player, and has made huge strides in his game.

Future

Lodge attended training camp with Winnipeg before returning to Saginaw for his fourth OHL season in 2014-15. Yet to sign an entry-level contract with the Jets, he projects to being an effective two-way forward at the pro level. Lodge would re-enter the draft if not signed by June 2015.

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